IPL 2026 Final: Rajat Patidar Confronts Umpire After Controversial Catch Decision Reversal

The high-octane IPL 2026 Final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans witnessed a moment of intense drama and controversy at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match, which was already reaching a fever pitch, saw a significant flashpoint when a catch decision was overturned by the third umpire, leading to a heated confrontation between RCB captain Rajat Patidar and the on-field officials. The incident occurred during the first innings while Gujarat Titans were batting, adding a layer of tension to an already prestigious encounter.

The Controversial Incident in the 10th Over

Gujarat Titans had a difficult start to their innings, losing 3 quick wickets early on. The pressure was mounting on the batting side when the incident took place in the 10th over of the innings. New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy was operating for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. On the final delivery of the over, Gujarat's Washington Sundar attempted a big shot but failed to time it perfectly, sending the ball high into the air towards the deep fine leg region.

Jordan Cox, who was on the field as a substitute fielder for RCB, showed great athleticism by sprinting from his position and making a forward-diving attempt, while cox appeared to have completed a clean catch, and the initial impression on the field was that Washington Sundar was out. Sundar himself began his walk back to the pavilion, believing his innings had come to an end, while however, on-field umpire Nitin Menon decided to refer the decision to the third umpire to ensure the validity of the catch, as there were suspicions that the ball might have grazed the turf during the process.

Third Umpire Overturns the Decision

The third umpire scrutinized multiple television replays from various angles for several minutes. After a detailed review, the official concluded that the ball had slightly touched the grass just as Jordan Cox was completing the catch. Consequently, the soft signal or the initial on-field assumption was disregarded, and the third umpire ruled Washington Sundar not out, while at that point, Sundar was batting on 4 runs having faced 7 deliveries. The decision allowed him to return to the crease, much to the dismay of the Bengaluru camp.

Rajat Patidar Confronts Nitin Menon

The reversal of the decision didn't sit well with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru players. Captain Rajat Patidar was visibly upset and immediately approached umpire Nitin Menon to express his frustration, while patidar was seen engaging in a heated discussion, questioning the basis on which the third umpire had overturned the catch. The RCB skipper appeared to be seeking clarification on the technicalities of the decision, as the team felt the catch was clean and should have stood.

The Backstory: April 30 Controversy

The intensity of Patidar's reaction was rooted in a previous encounter between these two teams. On April 30, during a league match held at the same venue in Ahmedabad, a very similar incident had occurred. In that game, Rajat Patidar was the batsman, and a catch was taken near the deep fine leg boundary by Gujarat Titans' Jason Holder, while replays at that time suggested that Holder's hand, along with the ball, might have touched the ground. However, in that instance, the third umpire had ruled in favor of the fielder and the Gujarat Titans, resulting in Patidar being declared out.

The inconsistency in the application of the rules in similar situations at the same stadium was the primary cause of RCB's anger. During the April 30 match, senior players like Virat Kohli and other RCB members had also protested against the decision. Seeing a similar situation go against them in the IPL 2026 Final reignited those frustrations, leading to the confrontation between Patidar and the officials on the field.